Spinal implant for facet joint
| Title: | Spinal implant for facet joint |
|---|---|
| Patent Number: | 8,252,026 |
| Publication Date: | August 28, 2012 |
| Appl. No: | 11/677427 |
| Application Filed: | February 21, 2007 |
| Abstract: | An apparatus (10) and method are provided for supporting an adjacent pair of vertebra (14, 16) relative to each other by anchoring a support frame (30) to the superior spinous process (24) and the inferior spinous process (28) of two adjacent vertebra (14, 16); and anchoring the support frame (30) to either the superior facets (34) or inferior facets (32) of the two adjacent vertebrae (14, 16). |
| Inventors: | Joshi, Abhijeet B. (Austin, TX, US) |
| Assignees: | Zimmer Spine, Inc. (Minneapolis, MN, US) |
| Claim: | 1. A spinal implant for use in connection with the facet joints of an adjacent pair of vertebrae, the implant comprising; a frame sized to extend between two immediately adjacent vertebrae on the posterior side of a spine, wherein the two immediately adjacent vertebrae are separated by a single intervertebral disc, the frame comprising: a single piece body having: a first anchor point having a first pair of projections extending from the single piece body, the first pair of projections defining a first U-shaped opening at a first end of the single piece body, the first anchor point being configured to be anchored to the spinous process of one of the two immediately adjacent vertebrae; a second anchor point having a second pair of projections extending from the single piece body, the second pair of projections defining a second U-shaped opening at a second end of the single piece body, the second anchor point extending longitudinally from the first anchor point and being configured to be anchored to the spinous process of the other one of the two immediately adjacent vertebrae, wherein each of the first and second U-shaped openings is configured to receive a spinous process; and a longitudinal link extending between the first and second anchor points; a third anchor point spaced laterally from the first and second anchor points and configured to be anchored to a facet of one of the two immediately adjacent vertebrae; and a first cantilevered arm extending between the longitudinal link and the third anchor point, wherein the first cantilevered arm includes an end configured to be received into a corresponding receiving opening in the longitudinal link. |
| Claim: | 2. The implant of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second pairs of projections comprises an aperture therein to receive a fastener passing through the spinous process received in the U-shaped opening. |
| Claim: | 3. The implant of claim 1 further comprising a fourth anchor point spaced laterally opposite from the third anchor point and configured to be anchored to another facet of the one of the two immediately adjacent vertebrae. |
| Claim: | 4. The implant of claim 3 wherein the frame further comprises: a second cantilevered arm extending between the longitudinal link and the fourth anchor point. |
| Claim: | 5. The implant of claim 4 wherein each of the third and fourth anchor points comprises a surface shaped to conform to the corresponding facet. |
| Claim: | 6. The implant of claim 4 wherein: the third anchor point comprises an aperture formed in the first cantilevered arm to receive a fastener that engages the one of the two immediately adjacent vertebrae; and the fourth anchor point comprises an aperture formed in the second cantilevered arm to receive a fastener that engages the one of the two immediately adjacent vertebrae. |
| Claim: | 7. The implant of claim 4 wherein the longitudinal link has a bending stiffness selected to allow a desired range of motion for the spine. |
| Claim: | 8. The implant of claim 4 wherein the longitudinal link has a bending stiffness selected to allow a desired range of motion for the spine and each of the arms have a bending stiffness selected to allow a desired range of motion for the spine. |
| Claim: | 9. The implant of claim 1 wherein the first cantilevered arm is made from a different material than the material of the longitudinal link and is detachably connected to the longitudinal link. |
| Claim: | 10. The implant of claim 1 wherein the end of the first cantilevered arm is configured to be threaded into the corresponding receiving opening in the longitudinal link. |
| Claim: | 11. The implant of claim 1 wherein the end of the first cantilevered arm is configured to press fit into the corresponding receiving opening in the longitudinal link. |
| Claim: | 12. A method of supporting an adjacent pair of vertebrae relative to each other, the method comprising the steps of: a) connecting the superior spinous process and the inferior spinous process of two immediately adjacent vertebrae via a first anchor point and a second anchor point of a body of a support frame, the body of the support frame being a single piece, the first anchor point having a first pair of projections extending from the body, the first pair of projections defining a first U-shaped opening at a first end of the body, the second anchor point having a second pair of projections extending from the body, the second pair of projections defining a second U-shaped opening at a second end of the body, the first anchor point and the second anchor point spaced longitudinally from each other via a longitudinal link, wherein each of the first and second U-shaped openings is configured to receive a spinous process, and wherein the two immediately adjacent vertebrae are separated by a single intervertebral disc; and b) anchoring the support frame to at least one facet of the two adjacent vertebrae via a third anchor point of the support frame, the third anchor point being spaced laterally from the first anchor point and the second anchor point at an end of a first cantilevered arm extending between the longitudinal link, the end of the first cantilevered arm being configured to be received into a corresponding receiving opening in the longitudinal link. |
| Claim: | 13. The method of claim 12 wherein step b) comprises anchoring the support frame to two of the facets of the two immediately adjacent vertebrae. |
| Claim: | 14. The method of claim 13 wherein: step a) is performed through a first incision; and step b) is performed through a pair of incisions spaced on laterally opposite sides of the first incision. |
| Claim: | 15. The method of claim 14 wherein step b) further comprises assembling at least part of the support frame in situ. |
| Claim: | 16. The method of claim 14 wherein steps a) and b) are performed through a common incision. |
| Claim: | 17. The method of claim 12 wherein step b) comprises engaging a bone fastener with the support frame and with at least one of the vertebral body, a superior facet, and an inferior facet. |
| Claim: | 18. A method of supporting an adjacent pair of vertebrae relative to each other, the method comprising the steps of: making an incision along a length of two immediately adjacent vertebrae, wherein the two immediately adjacent vertebrae are separated by a single intervertebral disc; inserting a link through the incision to control the spacing between a superior spinous process and an inferior spinous process of the two immediately adjacent vertebrae; anchoring a first anchor point of the link to the superior spinous process on an inferior vertebra of the two immediately adjacent vertebrae; anchoring a second anchor point of the link to the inferior spinous process on a superior vertebra of the two immediately adjacent vertebrae, the first anchor point and the second anchor point being on a single piece body of the link, thereby connecting the spinous processes of the two immediately adjacent vertebrae; and attaching at least an arm of the link to at least one facet joint of the two immediately adjacent vertebrae to reduce compressive or abnormal loading of facet joints of the two immediately adjacent vertebrae, wherein attaching at least an arm of the link to at least one facet joint of the two immediately adjacent vertebrae further comprises: inserting a pair of arms through a respective pair of incisions; and connecting the pair of arms to the link. |
| Claim: | 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the cantilevered arm of the link is detachably attached to the link. |
| Claim: | 20. The method of claim 18 wherein connecting the pair of arms to the link further comprises press fitting each of the arms into an opening in the link, extending the arm from the link to one of the facet joints. |
| Current U.S. Class: | 606/247 |
| Patent References Cited: | 4763644 August 1988 Webb 4805602 February 1989 Puno et al. 4887596 December 1989 Sherman 4950269 August 1990 Gaines et al. 5129388 July 1992 Vignaud et al. 7250052 July 2007 Landry et al. 7708765 May 2010 Carl et al. 7837711 November 2010 Bruneau et al. 2003/0028250 February 2003 Reiley et al. 2003/0040746 February 2003 Mitchell et al. 2005/0033434 February 2005 Berry 2006/0036246 February 2006 Carl et al. |
| Other References: | U.S. Appl. No. 10/698,010, filed Oct. 30, 2003, Landry, et al. cited by other U.S. Appl. No. 10/698,049, filed Oct. 30, 2003, Landry, et al. cited by other U.S. Appl. No. 11/234,706, filed Nov. 23, 2005, Robert Jones, et al. cited by other |
| Assistant Examiner: | Negrelli, Christina |
| Primary Examiner: | Robert, Eduardo C |
| Attorney, Agent or Firm: | Seager Tufte & Wickhem LLC |
| Accession Number: | edspgr.08252026 |
| Database: | USPTO Patent Grants |
| Language: | English |
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